USB Device Not Recognized in Windows and How to Resolve!

September 20, 2017 Jon 0 Comments

A very common problem many people encounter is a USB device that is not being recognized when it’s plugged into their computer. The problem is often a missing or corrupted USB device driver. In many cases the device you are attempting to connect comes with software that installs a new driver along with any software needed for the device. If installing that software doesn’t correct the problem you will need to go to the Device Manager in Windows. When you open the Windows Device Manager from the Control Panel, you will generally see the USB device under the Other devices or Unknown devices category.

In most cases the USB device driver is missing in Windows, the common solution to fixing the USB device not recognized error is to install the driver for the USB device. When you do have a driver CD, it’s still a good idea to get an updated driver for your USB device. Drivers on CDs are quite often outdated and updated drivers can solve problems, improve performance and add features. If you do not have a driver CD, you can try to find and download the USB device driver on the manufacturer’s website or in many cases you can update the driver through Windows.

In case you cannot find the device driver for the USB device, you can use a driver finder program. These programs will find and download device drivers on your PC based on the hardware that it automatically identifies. Even if your USB device is not plugged anymore, the application will be able to find and download a USB driver for it.

In case the USB driver update does not solve the USB device not recognized error, there are a few other things that you can try to solve the error. If your USB device is using a separate USB cable, try changing the cable to make sure the USB cable is not defective. For external hard disks that are not recognized, a shorter USB cable can sometimes help as the power voltage can be a problem. If you are getting a USB not recognized error when you are trying to connect a mobile phone or MP3 player, check the configuration options on the device itself. The settings often allow the device to be configured as a Mass Storage Device, which can solve the problem. Check the BIOS of your computer to make sure the USB ports are configured properly. Most new USB devices work best with the USB 2.0 configuration, but in some cases you might need to change the USB to “legacy” support, which means version 1.1. Disable the power management of USB hubs on your computer. This can sometimes help with certain USB devices, especially if the problem happens with power state changes.

If none of the suggestions listed above solve the problem you will need to seek help from a computer professional. They will be able to help you resolve any USB related errors you are experiencing as well as any other computer related issues you are having.

John Halleron, President of OnCallTech and OnCallTechnologies, has been in the computer repair related industry for over 10 years servicing residential and business computer repair needs. His passion for ensuring excellent customer service and quality work has gained his company recognition throughout Central Ohio and all surrounding areas. For more information, go to http://www.oncalltech.net.